Safety appliance for motor vehicles



Feb. 24. 19,25.

F. M. BLAKE SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Sept 8, 1922 ||l llllllll 37%?. @fa/1c ATTRNEY.

VAN; W MAY Feb. 24. 1925. 1,527,625

F. M. BLAKE SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR KOTOR VEHICLES Filed Sept. 8, 1922 2 Sheets-Shook 2 HORN \N ENTOR l @MM A TOR NEY Patented F eh. 24, 1925.

UNITE-D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAFETY APPLIANCE `FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

Application ilediSeptember 8,L, 1922. Serial No. 586,822.

ToaZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRED M. BLAKE, of' Fulton, in the county of Oswego, in the 16, 1922, the main difference being in the construction of the switch and the electrical connections between the battery and switch. The main object is to secure greater safety against theft, tire from short circuits and battery leakage when the car is` parked or housed and at the same time to protect the battery terminals from corrosion and con' tact with external objects. y

In the use of storage batteries on motor vehicles for operating the various translating devices, one side of the battery and one side of each of the translating devices is usually grounded upon the engine frame,

while in many machines, particularly inpleasure cars, an engine-driven dynamo or generator is commonly employed in connection with a suitable automatic cut-out for charging the battery and supplying current to the various translating devices when4 the battery is fully charged, and one ofthe specic objects of my present invention is to provide simple and eiicient means, under the control of the operator, for opening and closing the grounded side o the battery circuit and thereby cutting out or cutting in all other parts of the circuit or circuits, including the several translating devices. v l

Another object is to provide the battery with a metallic' cover and to support .the switch mechanism entirely upon and within the cover in such manner as to reduce to a minimum the possibility of malicious closing of the switch when locked in its open position.

A further object is to utilize a portion of y the switch in connection with a `suitable locking battery.

Other objects and uses relating to specific partysy of the device will be brought'out in the following description.

device for locking the covery on the In the drawings: Figure 1 `is an inverted plan'of the detached cover, showing the position of the battery and therbattery handles by dotted lines and the battery terminals by full lines.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken in the plane of line 2 2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the upper portion of the switchgperating plunger andlocking means there- Y or.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the movable switch member and other parts on the lower end of the plunger, showing also the adjacent end ofthe resistance member for the parking lights.

Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged detail sectional views taken respectively on lines 5 5 and 6-6, Figure l.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the detached switch` plates, bindingposts for one of the battery termina-l cables and resistance wire for the parking lights.

Figure 8, is a diagrammatic view of the cut-out switch and several translating devices showing one way of connecting the switch in the several circuits.

The storage battery -A-- shown by 'dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2, is provided with the usual terminals ef and -aand couplings -cand"cfor connectin the cables as -C- and C"-' tothe bin ing posts. Y

The top of the battery is enclosed in a suitable 'housing or cover -1- preferably carrying the The corresponding sides of the cover -1- are provided above the lower edges thereof with entrant ledges -4 adapted to rest upon the upper edges of the bars -2- and -2, so as to hold the upper portion of the cover` above theupper termina gate some distance ,--w-and aF,

The opposite bar -2,-V is provided with a cent-ral upwardly projecting extension 'in locking the cover tothe battery. l

A coil spring -12- surrounds the inter- -7-, having an aperture -8- for receiv` ing the adjacent end of a horizontally mov-4 able locking bolt '-9- which is movable in guidel iianges -10- on the under side of theitop of the cover --1--4 as shown in Figure 2, the outer end of said locking bolt being extended through an aperture 1l in the adjacent side ofthe cover,lto assist mediate portion .of the lockingn bolt -9 and has f one end engaged with the inner flange -lQ- and its other end Aengaged with a shoulder -13- on the bolt, for yieldingly Y holding said bolt in locking engagementv with the extension -7- of the bar 2'- and adjacent side of the cover. I

A tubular boss 14- of suitable metal, is-secured to and rises from the central portion of the top of the cover '1- andis provided with an outwardly projecting anternal cable 23-, andA through the me- `forv cooperative contact with a lmovable nular flange l5- rest'ing upon the upper surface thereof, the lower end of said tubular boss being provided with an externally threaded extension -16 projecting through an opening in the cover and engaged by a nut -17- which also engages the underside of the ad'acent portion of the cover for rmly clamping the tubular boss thereto. 1'

A locking screw -18- is engaged' from the underside iii registering apertures in the pair 'of binding posts .-119- vand f -19'- are secured respectively to'opposite Asides of the cover plate -1- below the top thereof and above the ledges -4-, one of said binding posts, as -19-,`being insulated from the cover bv suitable insulation -20, while the binding post -19- 'is in direct electrical connection with said cover. y j

Y connected by a cable -C- to one of the battery terminals,` as wholl within the switch member -25- which also has a conical contact face adapted to be moved into' and out of engagement with the contact face 24- of the tubular member -14 for making and breaking the circuit. b

A plunger 2G- is reciprocally movable vertically in the tubular `boss i4- and has its upper end extendeduabove the corresponding end of theboss and provided with a vertical socket fqr receiving a key controlled lock 27 which is held against relative endwise movement thereinby key 2S- and is provided with a locking bolt -29 movable by a suitable key into and outof an internal annular groove -30- in the boss M some distance below the upper end thereof, said lock beiner provided with a key-hole in the top thereo normally covered by laterally movable cap -31-', so that when the key is inserted in the lock and turned in one direction, it will withdraw the bolt 29m from' the annular groove -30- against the action of a retracting spring 29-, and allow the plunger to be moved upwardly by a retracting spring cover -1-, while the outer en l of the same binding post is adapted toreceive an external cable -22- for supplying current to the various translating devices. Q

' The bindingpost A19',- is grounded to the frame of the engine'by means of an eX- -32. For this latter purpose the locking bolt -29 is provided in its upper side with a recess -30- for forming opposite end shoulders adapted to be engaged by a key operated tumbler -27- for withdrawing the bolt against the act-ion of a spring -29- (see Fig.

The lower end of the plunger -26- is reduced in diameter to-form a stem -'-33- which extends through a guide opening in the bottom of the boss 1dand has its lower end threaded and engaged by a nut l -O The movable switch member p25- is mounted upon the lower end of the stem 33 in direct electrical contact with an underlying switch late -35-, which is also carried by the p unger stem -33, but both of these members .-25-' and 35- are insulated from the plunger by insulation -36, extending through registering'openf the same insulation being interposed be` 26.- fand upper end of the insula'tier 36-, which, together with` the switch members 725e.- -and --35- are tightly switch members, that is,

clamped between the lower end of the sleeve 3gand nut 34- as the latter is tightene The switch member or conducting plate 435-. is provided with a binding post which is connected one end ott a cable -C- having its other end electrically connected to the battery terminal -`-awholly within the cover plate. 1

The switch plate -35- is provided with an additional binding post -39 tok whirh is connected one end of a resistance coil -40-, having its other end electrically con-` nected by a blnding ost -41-to the nut '-34-, thereby esta lishing an` electrical resistance connection around the insulation 36- between the movable switch me1nber` and plunder -26-, which is in electrical contact wlth the boss -1-1 and therefore in electrical connection with `the binding post -19!- through the cover plate -1-.

The object of tlns resistance by-pass connection 40- is to maintain a relatively low power battery current in the working circuits for energizingthe parking lights, but of insufficient-power; to operate any of theother translating devices.

Vhen the plunger -26`- is depressed and locked in that position by the engagement of the locking bolt -29- in the annular groove the switch member .25- will be open, while thev nut '-311-' will be brought into reristration with the inner end of the coverooking bolt -9- andin close roxinnity thereto to hold the last named iiolt in its locking position, thereby preventing the removal of the cover plate from the battery, whiclrin turny prevents access tothe battery terminals and the opening of. the switch cuts out thej grounded side of the battery and thereby cuts out all of. the translating devices exce t the resistance which remains in circuit for energizing the parking lights.

The boss 14'- and switch operating plunger -26 therein preferably extends through an opening in the iioor board, as

switch in an open upward movement o -B-, of the motor ,vehicle, so that the plunger may beA depressed for locking'the positionA by simply stepping upon the upper end thereof, or it may be depressed by hand if desired, but in eitheracase the closin of the switch by the the plunger through the medium of the spring -32- is dei pendentupon the appllcation of a suitable key to the lock 274- for withdrawing the bolt 29` from its locking position;

iVhen the switch is closed by contacting of the member -25-with the contact face ,-241- of theY boss -14, all ofthe circuits through the several translating devices will be closed, and the locking bolt-gfor the' cover plate 1 wi11 bei il@ to be moved inwardly byl pressure against the outer end thereof against the" action bfthe spring 12- until disengaged from the keeper-plate -7-, thus permitting the entire cover plate with the switch and 1ocking mechanism thereonto be removed from the battery suticient to permit access to the enclosed mechanism for repairs or adjustment, or for the refilling of the battery, the cables C- and -C- being flexible and of suiiicient length to permit the displace ment ofthe cover, but it is-evident that after this displacement the cables may be disconnected from theirrespective battery terminals or binding posts, whereupon the .cover may be entirely removed from connection with the battery and laid aside if necessary.-

In Figure 7 I haveshown a diagrammatic view of the several translating devices and circuits in which they are connected, together with portions othe battery, cover plate and electric switch controlling said circuits. The translating devices shown consist of horn, head lights and tail lights, represented vrespectively by H. L. and T.L., ignition, generator (indicated by Gen.) and starting motor (indicated by starter), and also an automatic switch, usually connected in the battery and generator circuit for transferring the load to the generator when the engine is in operation, and for regulating the charging of the battery. In this diagrammatic view it will be observed that the cover plate -lof the battery and4 several translating devices are grounded at -g and that each of the translating devices, except the generator, is controlled by a separate switch aunder the control of the operator.

Thecircuits ascshown are from one of the battery 'terminals as -a-,`cable O binding post 19- and exterior cable -22- to the several translating devices, thence through the ground -gthrough the cover plate -1-, contact face 2lbof the post -14.-, and `yyhen the switch is closed,ltliro11gh the switch members 25- and 3'5- and cable V C,-' to the otherterminal -aof the ibatteryc. i

When the switch member -25- is open, current passes through the same conductors to the switchesv of the several translating devices, returning through the ground gto the case -1-, post 14-, plunger 2S- nut -34- in electricalconnection' with said plunger v'and thence through resistance coll -40- to the switch plate f35 and return by the cable -C'- to the other terminal o'f the battery. l

As previously stated this resistance-40* is selected and adjusted to reduce a glow in the lights I-I. L.and L. when the corresponding switchf --sis closed, .but is insucent to operate any of the other translating devices,L or even to produce intense illumination of the lamps H. L. and T. Lp, which are thenvused only for parking purposes, .P

It will be noted that the switch mechanism, including the locking devices for the 'switch and cover plate and also the cables between the switch and battery terminals vseveral translating devices is closed-by the' engagement of the member with the contact face `-24.-,.- l l,

' What I claim is 1. The combination with a tery, and anexternal working circuit having a plurality of translating devices therein,

i of a cover plate of electric conducting -materialmounted on the battery and enclosing the terminals thereof, binding posts on the cover plate, one of which is insulated there-- from andl connected to the external circuit for supplying current thereto the other binding post being in. electrical connection with the cover plate and grounded, a cable connecting onel of the battery terminals to the insulated binding post wholly within the cover plate, an electric switch having its contact faces wholly within the cover plate, one of the switch members beingfin electrical connection with the cover plate and the other switch member being electrically connected to said other battery terminal. '2. The combination with a storage vbati tery, of a cover plate 'of electric conducting material mounted on the battery and enclosing the terminals thereof, binding posts on the cover plate, one of which is insulated therefrom and provided with means for connection with an external grounded `circuit,

the otherv binding post being in electrical connection with the cover plate and grounded, a cable connecting one of the battery terminals tothe'ins'ulated binding post .wholly within the cover plate, an electric switch having its contact `faces lwholly within the cover plate, one of the switch members being in electrical connection `with the cover plate and the otherswitch member being electrically connected to the other battery terminal, a movable member for locking and releasing the cover plate in and from its closed position and means movable inI unison with the switch meinberfor preventing the unlocking movement of the locking member when the movable switch member is open storage bat-- and for permitting the unlocking movement of said locking member when the switch member is closed.

3. In combination with a storage battery,

a cover plate of electric conductin material mountedmn the battery and enc osing the terminals thereof, a binding post mounted on the cover\plate but insulated therefrom and electrically connected to one of the terminals of the battery, said binding post being provided with, means for connection with an external grounded circuit; an additional binding post mounted on the cover plate in electrical connection therewith and provided with means for receiving v a grounded connection and an electric switch within the cover plate having one of its members in electrical connection therewith and its other member in electrical connection with the other battery terminal.

4. In combination with a storage battery, a cover plate of electric conducting material vmounted on the battery andenclosing the terminals thereof, a binding post mounted on the cover plate but insulated therefrom and electricall .connected to one of the terminals of the attery, said binding post being provided with means'for connectionv with an external grounded circuit; an additional binding post mounted on the cover plate in electrical connection therewith and provided with means for receiving a grounded connection and an electric switch within the cover plate having one of its members'in electrical connection therewith and its other member in electric connection with the other battery terminal,v a conducting member secured ta the last named switch member but insulated therefrom and an electrical resis tance vfelectrically connected to the last named switch member and to said conducting member.

5. The combination with a storage battery, and an external working circuit including therein a plurality of grounded translatingv devices and controlling means Mtherefor of a groundedy cover plate of eleci tric conducting material mounted on the battery. and enclosing the battery terminals, a switch member secured to the battery plate in electrical connection therewith, a coopyerative switchfmember within the cover plate movable into and out of engagement with the lfirst named switch member, operating means for the movable switch member extending to the exterior of the cover plate, electrical connections between the movable switch member and one of the battery terminals wholly within the cover plate, and a binding post mounted on: the cover plate but insulated therefrom and electrically connected 'to the other battery`. terminal and electrically connected to the external circuit to sup ly current thereto.

a6. T e combination with a storage batbattery .the movable member p opened for locking the cover plate to the tery and an external circuit including there'- "in a plurality the battery terminals wholly within said cover plate and including an electric switch for lmaking and breaking connection between said battery terminal and cover plate, a binding post mounted on the coyer plate but insulated therefrom and electrically connected with the external circuit for supplying 'current thereto and electrical connections between the binding post and the other terminal wholly within the said cover plate.

7. The combination with a storage battery and an external circuit including therein a plurality of translatingdevices and controlling means therefor, of a grounded cover plate of electric conducting material mounted on the battery and enclosing the terminals thereof, electrical connections between one of the battery terminals and cover` plate l.wholly within said cover plate and including an electric switch, means controlled by of said Switch when battery, a binding post mounted on the cover plate but insulated therefrom and electrically connected to the external Vcircuit for supplying currentthereto' and elect-ric con-4 nections between said insulated binding post and the other battery terminal wholly Within the cover plate.

8. A safety appliance for Imotor vehicles 'other battery terminal for -member and the comprising in combination with a storage battery having a casing inclosing its terminals, said casing including an electrically grounded metallic cover, a pluralityIo electrically grounded translating devices electrically connected to one of the terminals of the battery, and an electric switch mounted on the cover wholly Within the casing and having'one of its member electrically connected to said cover and its other member movable and electrically connected to the grounding that terminal when the switch is closed, and for breaking the battery circuits through the translating devices when the switch is opened.

9. A safety appliance for motor vehicles comprisingk in combination wi-th a storage battery, a plurality of electrically grounded translating devices electrically connected to one of the terminals of the battery for receiving current therefrom, an electrically Vgrounded switch electrically connected to the other terminal of the battery for grounding the battery when the switch taining a relatively low voltage electrical connection between the movable switch ground when the switch is opened.

In Witnesswhereof YI have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of August, 1922.

. FREDM. BLAKE. Witnesses H. E. CHASE'. F. L. SANDERS. 

